i have a project to start - for myself - and I keep putting it off.....and time is starting to become a real factor. I am having a hard time to get motivated and start (also, this is NOT something fun or anything I want to do).

Re: how do you bring yourself to start a project you continue to put off?

Quote:

Originally Posted by -p.tiddy-

you should go to the bar and have some drinks and spend time thinking about how you are going to start this thing...

see where that goes

Seriously tho, depending on what it is, turn off your laptop, shut off your internet and get rid of any other distractions and get to f*cking work! Distractions are the main thing that will make you procrastinate.

Re: how do you bring yourself to start a project you continue to put off?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Is He Ill

You just have to dive in. Don't think about it, just do it.

This. It seems that OP has gone past the point of game-planning and strategizing and now he must just go in guns blazing. It's not a bad tactic as well as that helps me with my projects, papers and assignments. Once you start and force yourself through the first 10 minutes or so you'll begin to get in the mood too.

OP make your self a nice cup of coffee, listen to some relaxing music and get the shit done.

Re: how do you bring yourself to start a project you continue to put off?

Just close all distractions, including internet, tv, etc. Sit down with the project outline or whatever and just start doing what you can. Make ideas on how you can do things you are stuck on, etc. Really the key is to shut off any possibility of distraction.

Of course I say all this while I have 5 final exams during the next week or so and here I am on ISH.

Re: how do you bring yourself to start a project you continue to put off?

Just start it. Even if you just do a little bit at first, starting it will make you feel better.

With me, I am always nervous before starting a project or a presentation, but once I just start making it, I feel better, even if it just a few slides on a powerpoint, just starting it a little bit get's me motivated and it's a lot easier to finish it up.

Re: how do you bring yourself to start a project you continue to put off?

This book is fantastic and there's a whole cult of folks online using this methods.

One suggestion he has for anything is write down the next physical thing you need to do to complete the action.

For example your vacation list shouldn't have
Plan vacation as an action item. It's more useful to have something get number of the travel agency.

Another useful thing is context. If you read this note late in the day, you might not be able to do major work on the project, but you might be able knock off all the little things you know you are going to have to do anyway. So focus on that.